Living Well: It's okay to be angry

From time to time, I get angry. And given the current state of the world we live in, I imagine you do too.

If you’re female, chances are your anger is often met with a “calm down”, laughter or even a reference to your hormones and/or menstrual cycle.

Angry men are strong and forceful, while angry women can be dismissed as irrational, hysterical, unstable and so on.

Is it any wonder, then, so many women hide their tempers and swallow their annoyances?

But by bowing to societal pressure, by suppressing our negative emotions and directing our anger inwardly, we could be wreaking havoc on our health; causing stress, weight gain and mental and physical illnesses.

Anger is an energy, and it it’s not expressed your heart rate and blood pressure rise and your stomach acid churns.

Stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released and you’re geared up for a fight.

Moreover, women who try to squash their anger down may be more likely to smoke, drink to excess and overeat.

But by learning to release bad feelings in a controlled and constructive manner, you can add years (not to mention satisfaction) to your life.

To express your anger in a positive way, you need to teach your brain to think before you act, especially if you are someone who is prone to ‘snap’.

Counting to ten can help, as can taking deep breaths, and meditating.

Journalling or creating a piece of art can also work as a form of expression.

Sometimes, though, anger is a physical energy that needs to be expelled from the body.

Running, kickboxing and swimming can help.

I personally find a good scream (if I’m alone) to be therapeutic.

And a lot of people swear by a punchbag - I find battering a pile of pillows with a plastic bat works just as well.

Some women say cleaning and tidying helps them clear their head of negativity, as does pulling weeds from the garden.

There is no clear way of going about it, it's about finding whatever works for you. But by doing so, you could feel a whole lot better, both inside and out.

How do you manage your anger? Tell us in the comments below or email kate.lally@trinitymirror.com